Dan Nadel: Brooklyn Prayer

Brooklyn Prayer is extremely heart-felt, and in its low-key kind of way engrossing and attractive. Some might find, however, that Nadel wears his emotions too much on his sleeve, especially with such lyrics as these:

Hold me tight, my eyes will let you in.

I'll wash away your pain with my smile.

It's alright,

Let me free you from your chains here in the night.

It feels so right.

That said, there are many things to like in this release. Gilad (whom I have seen in Freddie Bryant's trio) is a fantastic world percussionist, playing many instruments with precision and intensity. Along with Plaxico, he makes the various rhythms here authentic. Nadel, being Israeli, fits right in when he creates this musical world tour representing the many cultures of Brooklyn, New York.

Nadel mostly plays a nylon classical guitar, occasionally switching to acoustic steel string, further keeping things small and intimate. He is joined by vocalist Michal Cohen, who is most effective when purely vocalizing, producing an sound of pure note, almost devoid of body, as on "Warm Shades of Beauty and "Dark Glasses.

Instrumentally, Nadel uses his guitar to make emotional points; he is not at all a technical wizard, and in fact comes off a bit strained when trying to wail blues lines on the steel-string guitar.

Despite these minor criticisms, Brooklyn Prayer does hold up well as a personal musical statement.

I grew up listening to my father's jazz records and listening to the radio. My dad was a musician for many years as a vocalist, bassist and drummer. His two uncles played in the Symphony of Reggio Calabria back in Italy

I grew up listening to my father's jazz records and listening to the radio. My dad was a musician for many years as a vocalist, bassist and drummer. His two uncles played in the Symphony of Reggio Calabria back in Italy. So music and jazz specifically have been a part of me since I was born. I love and perform in all styles of music from around the world. Improvisation in jazz is what drew me in, and still does as well as other genres that feature improvisation. A group of great musicians expressing themselves as one is the hallmark of great jazz and in fact all great music.